8 Small Measures That Could Save Your Life

From anesthesia to airbags to antiseptics—and that’s just a few of the A’s—some pain-saving measures are so revolutionary that we can’t imagine life without them. But for every Penicillin, there are probably hundreds of minor measures—new advancements, or just new uses for old standbys—that help make your life a lot less painful than it used to be. Here are eight to be thankful for:

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A Rescue Inhaler

Switching inhaler types could prevent more than half of the 2.1 million asthma-related ER trips per year, according to a recently released U.K. study. The bulk of asthma-related ER visits result from people losing track of how much medication they have left—and taking breaths from inhalers that are actually empty, researchers say. But a rescue inhaler—featuring a dose counter that shows how much medicine remains—can cut hospital admissions. The gadgets are widely available, but if your insurance doesn’t cover them, companies like PuffMinder ($40, Puffminder.com) offer an attachment that will help you keep track.

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The Right Kind of Smoke Detector

Unlike ionization detectors—the most-common type in the U.S., and great at sensing flames—photoelectric detectors are quicker to recognize the smoldering, toxic smoke released by slow burns from frayed electrical cords or forgotten cigarettes. That’s according to experiments from Texas A&M professor B. Don Russell, who recommends ponying up a few extra bucks to buy a dual detector equipped with both technologies. First Alert ($23, homedepot.com) offers a popular option.

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"Auto-Braking" Technology

Like airbags and electronic stability control, forward collision assistance—also known as “auto-braking”—is one of those innovations that works so well it’ll probably be in every car a decade from now. Your risk of ending up in an accident falls 20 percent if your ride has this technology, according to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you can afford it, most luxury car brands currently offer these systems.

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A New Water Filter

It may seem silly to switch out your carbon water filters every 4 to 6 weeks as the manufacturer instructs. They’re expensive, after all. But if you don’t, you’re exposing yourself to potentially life-threatening bacteria, explains Stephen C. Edberg, Ph.D., a public health expert at Yale University. “A dirty or clogged carbon filter is worse than no filter at all because carbon can support bacterial and fungal growth, some of which are toxic, yet odorless and tasteless.”

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Plastic Wrap

Nearly half of all burn deaths are the result of infection, according to a study from the University of Texas. But because it’s sterile and binds only to itself, plastic wrap is stocked in most ambulances so paramedics can keep fresh burns protected from germs. If you—or someone else—suffer a fire or heat-related burn, wrap the wound in plastic wrap until you can get to a hospital, advises the American College of Emergency Physicians. But don’t do this if you suffer an acid or chemical burn, as those could melt the plastic, the ACEP warns.

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Unwashed Chicken

Last year, at least 48 million people in the U.S. became ill—sometimes terminally—because of food contamination, according to U.S. government estimates. Much of that may have been due to bad chicken, explains Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., a health scientist who oversaw a recent analysis that turned up frightening amounts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on store-bought chicken. While cooking chicken will kill nearly everything that could make you sick, washing your bird before you prepare it is a great way to splash dangerous germs around your sink and kitchen, Rangan says.

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The Right Kind of Helmet

Dozens of studies have shown wearing any type of motorcycle helmet will reduce your risk of death by 42 percent or more. But helmets that include face and chin protection offer significant life-saving protections compared to faceless or “jet-pilot”-style headgear, finds a Taiwanese study of 1,351 crash victims.

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Coffee

Swallowing some joe could counteract the airway-closing effects of a severe reaction to allergens like nuts, shows research from Korea. By blocking the release of throat-tightening histamine, coffee’s compounds cut the rate of death among allergy ridden rodents by half, the research shows. While it’s not yet proven to be effective in humans, it’s worth a try in the absence of emergency help or an epinephrine shot.

Markham HeidMarkham Heid is an experienced health reporter and writer, has contributed to outlets like TIME, Men’s Health, and Everyday Health, and has received reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.

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